Preliminary estimates show the total number of apple trees decreased by 2% to 10.0 million in 2002-03. Decreases in tree numbers were reported in the two main growing states: New South Wales and Victoria. The total number of trees reported in New South Wales decreased by 3% to 2.2 million, and in Victoria, the largest growing state, there was a decrease of 7% in the reported total to 3.1 million.

The total production of apples decreased by 2% from the previous year to 314,000 tonnes in 2002-03. Conditions for growers varied significantly by state. Victoria reported an increase in apple production of 13% to 112,400 tonnes, with increased average yields offsetting lower tree numbers. Likewise, South Australia reported an increase in apple production of 21% to 28,900 tonnes, with some growers recording very good crops. However, less favourable conditions in New South Wales saw a significant decrease in apple production, down 14% to 61,400 tonnes.

Pears

Preliminary estimates show the total number of pear trees increased by 8% to 2.0 million in 2002-03. The increase was driven by the largest producing state, Victoria, which recorded a 13% increase in the total number of pear trees, up to 1.6 million.

The total production of pears decreased by 5% from the previous year to 139,600 tonnes in 2002-03. Lower yields in Victoria were the main contributors to this lower national total.

Table 1: Apples(a)

Australia

2003p

2001

2002

2003p

NSW

Vic.

Qld

SA

WA

Tas.

NT

ACT

NUMBER OF TREES(b) ('000)

Trees under 1 year

605.6

324.0

304.0

39.6

154.4

18.8

47.7

11.3

32.1

n.c.

-

Trees 1 to 3 years

n.c.

1,808.6

1,460.4

277.4

433.9

149.9

231.5

118.6

248.7

n.c.

0.3

Trees 4 years and over

n.c.

8,070.3

8,206.1

1,841.2

2,511.5

801.3

931.7

840.5

1,276.9

n.c.

3.0

Total number of trees

10,203.1

10,202.9

9,970.4

2,158.3

3,099.9

970.0

1,211.0

970.4

1,557.7

n.c.

3.3

PRODUCTION OF FRUIT (fresh weight) ('000 t)

Total production

324.6

320.5

314.3

61.4

112.4

23.5

28.9

35.7

52.4

n.c.

0.1

Yield (kg/tree)(c)

50.3

39.7

38.3

33.3

44.8

29.3

31.0

42.4

41.1

n.c.

22.8

- = zero or rounded to zeron.c. = not collected(a) Where figures have been rounded, discrepancies may occur between sums of the component items and totals.(b) Age categories were revised in 2002 in line with industry requirements. Previous splits were for trees under 1 year, trees 1 to 5 years and trees 6 years and over.(c) Yield represents the quantity of fruit produced per tree of bearing age, i.e. 4 years and over. For 2001, the yield is based on a bearing age of 6 years and over.

Table 2: Pears (including nashi)(a)

Australia

2003p

2001

2002

2003p

NSW

Vic.

Qld

SA

WA

Tas.

NT

ACT

NUMBER OF TREES ('000)

Trees under 1 year

85.0

66.6

86.1

1.3

71.2

8.6

1.8

2.0

1.2

n.c.

-

Trees 1 to 5 years

224.2

229.4

266.2

2.5

184.1

2.9

14.6

55.1

7.0

n.c.

-

Trees 6 years and over

1,785.4

1,531.0

1,623.6

33.0

1,349.0

18.9

79.0

126.1

17.5

n.c.

0.1

Total number of trees

2,094.6

1,827.0

1,975.9

36.8

1,604.3

30.5

95.3

183.2

25.6

n.c.

0.1

PRODUCTION OF FRUIT (fresh weight) ('000 t)

Total production

173.2

147.5

139.6

0.9

123.3

0.8

4.9

8.9

0.8

n.c.

-

Yield (kg/tree)(b)

97.0

96.3

86.0

26.6

91.4

40.8

62.6

70.5

47.0

n.c.

40.0

- = zero or rounded to zeron.c. = not collected(a) Where figures have been rounded, discrepancies may occur between sums of the component items and totals.(b) Yield represents the quantity of fruit produced per tree of bearing age, i.e. 6 years and over.